Employee training is essential for an organization’s success. Many companies provide some sort of introductory training or orientation for most of their new employees. It may take the form of an older employee assigned to show the new employee "the ropes." Or it may be left to the HR department or the individual's new supervisor to show them where the coffee pot is and how to apply for time off. Many organizations, especially in government and academia, have created new employee training that is designed, exclusively or primarily, to provide mandated safety familiarization. Despite the importance of this training, a trainer can encounter resistance from both employees and managers. Both groups may claim that training is taking them away from their work. However, a trainer can combat this by demonstrating that training is actually a crucial part of employees’ and managers’ work. When deciding on the best method to use in employee training there are some curial questions to ask. Who is your audience? How many will need this instruction and where are they located? How receptive to new learning methods are they? How motivated to learn are they? What is their current knowledge level? For example, if you are running a training event via E-Learning, this may not be suitable for someone who has low level of computer skills – the method may even be a barrier to learning. Similarly, you would use a different approach with senior managers versus new hires.
On this page we will look at several types of training methods and explore their strengths and weaknesses.
E-Learning
This includes all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. This term will most likely be utilized to reference both in-classroom and out-of-classroom training via technology, even as advances continue in regards to devices and curriculum. When talking about E-Learning the two big format that are thought of are, Computer Based Training (CBT) and Computer Based Learning (CBL).
Computer Based Training (CBT): CBT is usually a self-paced learning activity accessible via a computer. Because it is self paced it works best with linear learning like math and procedural items. However because you are using the internet and computers you have a greater range of items you can use for your presentation / learning experience. One of the biggest drawbacks of this type of learning is the cost. It takes enormous amounts of resources to create and maintain a CBT course. Also with the lack of human interaction you have a limited type of information that can be presented and a limited type of assessment tools to use.
Computer Based learning (CBL): CBL refers to the use of computers as a key component of your training. Whether it is in the class room or out. Many classes today are taught using computers in the classroom to allow students to see and interact as they will in their everyday job. An example would be if you had a new accounting upgrade and you where being taught using a computer with the new upgrade already loaded.
Distance Learning
Distance education has been around since 1728 when Caleb Phillips was teaching a “new method of Short Hand.” According to the advertisement in the Boston Gazette you would be sent new lessons weekly.
With the rise of computers and the internet distance learning has become easier and faster. The two types of training are synchronous, where all the participants are no line at the same time to help provide feedback to each other and the instructor, and asynchronous, where the learner access the material when it is best for him or her (Distance Education, 2012). Other technology methods that can be used for delivery methods include: interactive radio instruction (IRI), interactive audio instruction (IAI), and digital games.
Today, there are many schools that offer a variety of courses from basic skills to advanced doctorial degrees. Many companies use this type of training to provide basic training to their employees because of the cost effectiveness of the training.
Benefits:
Easy access: this means that companies need only provide the computers for an employee to access the training. Also the training can be accessed at any time.
Alleviate capacity Constraints: The employer does not need to have separate rooms for the various types of training going on. So and auto mechanic can be training in the same room as a cashier.
Time efficient: this allows students to go at their own pace rather than holding the fast students to a slower pace or forcing a slow student to move ahead before he is ready.
Criticism:
Distractions: learners are easily distracted from the training by other issues.
Technology Reliability: This is not as big of a concern as it use to be but loss of internet can stop training.
Technology Impaired Student: Even in today’s society not everyone is familiar with computers and may need help using and learning from one.
Webinar / Web Conferencing
This refers to a service that allows training events to be viewed from various locations. This type of training allows real-time point-to-point communications as well as multicast communications from one sender to many receivers. You can use text messaging, voice and video chat with the training. Currently most companies use this type of application for presentations and meets.
Some of the features that can be used during a webinar are:
Slide Show Presentation: With this you can also use the audio section to provide instruction while showing the slide.
Live or Streaming video: This is an easy way to show a demonstration for something.
VoIP: Voice over IP allows for real time communications via the computer.
Text Chatting: For live question and answering sessions.
Training Recording: Allows trainee to record training for further review later.
Questions Polling: This allows everyone to answer the instructors question so that they know that everyone understood the topic.
Criticism:
Many of the criticisms are the same as distance learning, technology reliability, and technology impaired student. However with this there is also the requirement for everyone to be on at the same time. So if you instructor is in New York and one of the students are in Japan there may be a little time difference issue.
M-Learning
Though relatively new, only dating back to the 1970’s, Mobile learning has started to gain in popularity. M-Learning refers to any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not fixed to a predetermined location, or learning happens when the learner takes advantage of learning offered on a mobile device (Guidelines for learning/teaching/tutoring in a mobile environment, 2003). In other words any learning that does not restrict the movement of a student to a set point or location but allows for general mobility could be considered M-Learning. As technology becomes better and better this type of learning will become more enhanced. Think of maintenance tech who receives training on an item while repairing it from his phone. Another example would be learning a new language via an MP3 player. The challenges too many of these ideas are with the technology itself. Small screens, limited battery life, distractions in training will all play a big part in how M-learning is used.
Blended Learning
This is a system that combines multiple types of learning together in a class or course. This means that a student could start the class online with a lecture. Then shift into a mobile app to take down notes or record a video and finish in a classroom to provide information to a teacher.
Many see this as the best training there is, however as with all training the analysis of the training needed should guide you to answer if a blended solution is needed. Some of the questions the you will need to ask are: 1. At what level is the training? 2. What is the location of the audience? 3. Is the technology available to use? By looking at the answers to these questions you can better define what is needed.
Many companies are graduating to this system of thinking because of the perceived cost benefits. This can be misleading both good and bad. If you have training that has a lot of people and will not change anytime soon, then the cost may be well worth it. However if you have only a few people who need the training and the process is liable to change then the cost of creating the training may not be worth it. This is something you as the designer will need to look at when you present your training proposal to the company.
Conclusion
On this page we have looked at just a few of the types of training that can be used to train our employees. To answer the age old question of “What is the best type of training?” The answer is “Yes.” The thing to remember when deciding the type of training that you will use is: Who, Where, and What. Who is my audience? Where all are they located? What type of knowledge am I teaching them? These answers should be answered when you present your findings from your training needs assessment.
On this page we will look at several types of training methods and explore their strengths and weaknesses.
E-Learning
This includes all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. This term will most likely be utilized to reference both in-classroom and out-of-classroom training via technology, even as advances continue in regards to devices and curriculum. When talking about E-Learning the two big format that are thought of are, Computer Based Training (CBT) and Computer Based Learning (CBL).
Computer Based Training (CBT): CBT is usually a self-paced learning activity accessible via a computer. Because it is self paced it works best with linear learning like math and procedural items. However because you are using the internet and computers you have a greater range of items you can use for your presentation / learning experience. One of the biggest drawbacks of this type of learning is the cost. It takes enormous amounts of resources to create and maintain a CBT course. Also with the lack of human interaction you have a limited type of information that can be presented and a limited type of assessment tools to use.
Computer Based learning (CBL): CBL refers to the use of computers as a key component of your training. Whether it is in the class room or out. Many classes today are taught using computers in the classroom to allow students to see and interact as they will in their everyday job. An example would be if you had a new accounting upgrade and you where being taught using a computer with the new upgrade already loaded.
Distance Learning
Distance education has been around since 1728 when Caleb Phillips was teaching a “new method of Short Hand.” According to the advertisement in the Boston Gazette you would be sent new lessons weekly.
With the rise of computers and the internet distance learning has become easier and faster. The two types of training are synchronous, where all the participants are no line at the same time to help provide feedback to each other and the instructor, and asynchronous, where the learner access the material when it is best for him or her (Distance Education, 2012). Other technology methods that can be used for delivery methods include: interactive radio instruction (IRI), interactive audio instruction (IAI), and digital games.
Today, there are many schools that offer a variety of courses from basic skills to advanced doctorial degrees. Many companies use this type of training to provide basic training to their employees because of the cost effectiveness of the training.
Benefits:
Easy access: this means that companies need only provide the computers for an employee to access the training. Also the training can be accessed at any time.
Alleviate capacity Constraints: The employer does not need to have separate rooms for the various types of training going on. So and auto mechanic can be training in the same room as a cashier.
Time efficient: this allows students to go at their own pace rather than holding the fast students to a slower pace or forcing a slow student to move ahead before he is ready.
Criticism:
Distractions: learners are easily distracted from the training by other issues.
Technology Reliability: This is not as big of a concern as it use to be but loss of internet can stop training.
Technology Impaired Student: Even in today’s society not everyone is familiar with computers and may need help using and learning from one.
Webinar / Web Conferencing
This refers to a service that allows training events to be viewed from various locations. This type of training allows real-time point-to-point communications as well as multicast communications from one sender to many receivers. You can use text messaging, voice and video chat with the training. Currently most companies use this type of application for presentations and meets.
Some of the features that can be used during a webinar are:
Slide Show Presentation: With this you can also use the audio section to provide instruction while showing the slide.
Live or Streaming video: This is an easy way to show a demonstration for something.
VoIP: Voice over IP allows for real time communications via the computer.
Text Chatting: For live question and answering sessions.
Training Recording: Allows trainee to record training for further review later.
Questions Polling: This allows everyone to answer the instructors question so that they know that everyone understood the topic.
Criticism:
Many of the criticisms are the same as distance learning, technology reliability, and technology impaired student. However with this there is also the requirement for everyone to be on at the same time. So if you instructor is in New York and one of the students are in Japan there may be a little time difference issue.
M-Learning
Though relatively new, only dating back to the 1970’s, Mobile learning has started to gain in popularity. M-Learning refers to any sort of learning that happens when the learner is not fixed to a predetermined location, or learning happens when the learner takes advantage of learning offered on a mobile device (Guidelines for learning/teaching/tutoring in a mobile environment, 2003). In other words any learning that does not restrict the movement of a student to a set point or location but allows for general mobility could be considered M-Learning. As technology becomes better and better this type of learning will become more enhanced. Think of maintenance tech who receives training on an item while repairing it from his phone. Another example would be learning a new language via an MP3 player. The challenges too many of these ideas are with the technology itself. Small screens, limited battery life, distractions in training will all play a big part in how M-learning is used.
Blended Learning
This is a system that combines multiple types of learning together in a class or course. This means that a student could start the class online with a lecture. Then shift into a mobile app to take down notes or record a video and finish in a classroom to provide information to a teacher.
Many see this as the best training there is, however as with all training the analysis of the training needed should guide you to answer if a blended solution is needed. Some of the questions the you will need to ask are: 1. At what level is the training? 2. What is the location of the audience? 3. Is the technology available to use? By looking at the answers to these questions you can better define what is needed.
Many companies are graduating to this system of thinking because of the perceived cost benefits. This can be misleading both good and bad. If you have training that has a lot of people and will not change anytime soon, then the cost may be well worth it. However if you have only a few people who need the training and the process is liable to change then the cost of creating the training may not be worth it. This is something you as the designer will need to look at when you present your training proposal to the company.
Conclusion
On this page we have looked at just a few of the types of training that can be used to train our employees. To answer the age old question of “What is the best type of training?” The answer is “Yes.” The thing to remember when deciding the type of training that you will use is: Who, Where, and What. Who is my audience? Where all are they located? What type of knowledge am I teaching them? These answers should be answered when you present your findings from your training needs assessment.
References
Guidelines for learning/teaching/tutoring in a mobile environment. (2003, June 10). Retrieved September 9, 2012, from MOBIlearn: http://mobilearn.org/download/results/guidelines.pdf
Distance Education. (2012, October 6). Retrieved October 10, 2012, from Wkipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distance_education